Coconut-Based Tourism

The Chairman of of the Coconut Development Board (CDB), India, Dr. Ananda Bose, IAS has indicated that the CDB has initiated the Coconut Trail Project as part of its coconut-based tourism promotion. He further indicated that the Coconut Trail Project will take the tourists from an emerging tourism village in Kochi, Kerala, India to other tourist spots in other parts of the country where they will get first hand knowledge of the lifestyle of the coconut farming community and the various uses of the coconut and other parts of the palm.

The objectives of the Project are to encourage more interest in coconut farming and to make the villages more self-reliant by promoting increased coconut production, value addition of various coconut products, and provisions for market facilities. The CDB envisaged that in the “Coconut Trail,” the tourists can fully savour a variety of coconut splendors including a refreshing drink of young tender coconut water, tongue teasing cuisine and beautiful artefacts while sailing through the palm fringed backwaters of Kerala, India.

We at the APCC Secretariat believe that this project of the CDB is worthy of emulation by all APCC member countries. In the Philippines for example, the “coconut palace” which was built using mostly coconut wood materials and located in the Cultural Center Complex in Manila is now one of the tourist attractions in the country. The Villa Escudero Coconut Farm which is just an hour ride from Manila has also become a favorite tourist destination where one can see the activities in a coconut farm, visit a cultural museum and enjoy a sumptuous lunch of local cuisine especially using coconut as one its ingredients. Cultural presentations including local dances and songs about coconut farming are also staged as part of the entertainment package. These “coconut places” have also become favorite venues for wedding receptions, anniversaries and birthday celebrations for the local people and foreign visitors.

In Thailand, selected farms are also used as tourist attractions for demonstrating how trained monkeys harvest mature coconuts from up the tree. Various handicraft stores and workshops are also used as tourist destinations where one can see how coconut handicrafts and other novelties are made in various sizes, shapes and designs, and where one can buy a piece or two to bring back home as a souvenir.

It was also suggested that a “Coconut World” which may consist of a Coconut Exhibition House and a Coconut Park be built or established in a major tourist destination or in the capital city of APCC member countries. This way, all the products of the coconut could be displayed including relevant information on coconut farming, latest technologies, the health, medical and environmental attributes of the coconut, and many others.

We believe that coconut-based tourism will not only be a dollar-earning project for the country but should also promote coconut farming both as a national heritage and a source of livelihood for the millions of smallholders and farm workers